High Flyers in the 804

With the high school season just around the corner we're going to take a look at some of the top performers in certain aspects of the game in different areas of the state. Here, we take a look at part one of some of the most athletic players and finishers in the Richmond area.   [player_tooltip player_id='992528' first='Dennis' last='Parker'] Jr. | 6'6” WF | John Marshall 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Parker-Dennis-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Parker-Dennis-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1308349"/></a></figure>   Parker is not only the best senior prospect in the Richmond area, he's also one of if not the best athlete in the area and he's shown time and time again he's capable of putting on a show above the rim. It helps that he's so good handling the ball in transition and getting downhill where he can get a head of steam and take off, he can put it down in traffic or in transition and he's an excellent shot blocker at his position with his athleticism as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1231823' first='AJ' last='Wills'] | 6'1” PG | LC Bird 2023   Wills is criminally under recruited heading into his senior season and one of the things that's so impressive with him is how explosive he is at the point guard position. He's lightning quick with the ball in his hands and can blow by initial defenders and get to the rim before help comes, he is a big time leaper both off of one and two feet and he has terrific hang time to be able to change his body and finish when help does arrive.   [player_tooltip player_id='1231822' first='Leland' last='Coleman'] | 6'6” WF | Trinity Episcopal 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Coleman-Leland-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/05/Coleman-Leland-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1460998"/></a></figure>   It's no surprise that Coleman is a big time athlete, it's in his blood as his father was a star at Virginia Tech on the football field and his brother Henry is a star at Texas A&M on the basketball court. The 6'6” Coleman has an athletic frame with long limbs and he's very mobile, he can get downhill in transition where he can rise up and challenge players at the rim and he is always a threat for a lob or a put-back as well off the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='815595' first='Judah' last='Egbo'] | 6'8” C | Life Christian Academy 2023   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Egbo-Judah-CBG.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Egbo-Judah-CBG-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1421162"/></a></figure>   Egbo is a the type of big man that coaches want now a days as at 6'8” he's both mobile and explosive and he plays with great energy that's infectious to his team when he gets a chance to throw one down. He isn't afraid to challenge players on either ends of the floor at the rim, he has good hands and when he catches on rolls and duck ins he can rise up quickly and throw it down and he's a good shot blocker with good timing that can pin it off the glass or meet you at the rim.   [player_tooltip player_id='1107851' first='Owen' last='Gray'] | 6'8” PF/C | Steward School 2024   Gray has developed nicely over the past few years and the thing that's really intriguing about him is his athleticism and mobility at his size. He can run the floor with guards and wings and get opportunities on drop offs or lobs to get above the rim, he can fly in for rebounds and put-backs and as his skillset continues to develop he'll have more chances at the rim for highlight finishes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1489063' first='Brandon' last='Jennings'] | 6'3” PG | St. Chris 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/Jennings-Brandon-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/07/Jennings-Brandon-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1531282"/></a></figure>   Jennings was a breakout player this summer with Team Push 16U picking up a couple of division one offers and while his pace and play as a floor general is very impressive he's also a big time athlete who can play above the rim as well. He's gone through a growth spurt recently and has super long arms to get up in transition, he's able to move off the ball and run back door and lob plays to catch defenses off guard and he has good hang time and body control to finish in traffic.   Latrell Almond | 6'8” PF | John Marshall 2026   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/IMG_2076.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/IMG_2076-1024x768.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1280882"/></a></figure>   Allmond is one of the most impressive rising freshmen that I've come across in my time as a scout, and one thing he does is attack the basket aggressively using his size and athleticism to finish above the rim time and time again. Whether it's crashing the glass on a teammates miss, running the floor in transition where he can both handle it and catch passes and lobs for throw downs or just bullying his way in, he looks to finish above the rim as much as he can and the fact that he's only going to get more athletic with time and growth means we're just seeing the start of all of this.

With the high school season just around the corner we're going to take a look at some of the top performers in certain aspects of the game in different areas of the state. Here, we take a look at part one of some of the most athletic players and finishers in the Richmond area.